Current Affairs Quiz-September, 2020

Notes:
The first India-France-Australia Trilateral Dialogue was held in a virtual mode recently. The virtual meet was co-chaired by Harsh Vardhan Shringla, the Foreign Secretary of India.
The meeting focused on enhancing cooperation among the three countries in Indo-Pacific Region. Moreover, the participants discussed on economic and strategic challenges in the context of the COVID-19.

Notes:
Leading Private sector bank of India, ICICI Bank has launched an exclusive programme for start-ups named ‘iStartup2.0’.
Under this programme, a Current Account can be created for new businesses that are up to ten years old seamlessly. The Bank has integrated its APIs with the website of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) and the account number is obtained at the time of incorporation.

Notes:
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently released a report titled Countdown to 2023: WHO report on global trans-fat elimination 2020.
As per the report, more than 100 countries have to take actions to remove harmful substances from their food supplies. Due to consumption of trans fats, 5 lakh deaths per year is estimated due to coronary heart disease.

Notes:
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and France’s ENGIE group have signed a long-term loan of up to Rs 466 crore to set up a 200-MW solar power project in Gujarat.
The project that is to be developed in the Raghanesda Solar Park, is expected to be commissioned in the first half of 2021. Electro Solaire Private Limited (ESPL), a special purpose vehicle owned by the ENGIE group, will implement the project.

Notes:
The candidate of National Democratic Alliance and Janata Dal (United) MP – Harivansh Narayan Singh has been re-elected as the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha deputy chairman by a voice vote.
This is the second time he has been selected as the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha. He defeated the opposition candidate Manoj Jha of Rashtriya Janata Dal.

Notes:
World Ozone Day or ‘International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer’ is observed on September 16 all over the world.
Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer was adopted and signed by 28 countries, on 22 March 1985. The theme of this year is ‘Ozone for Life’. This year also marks the 35th year of the Vienna Convention and 35 years of global ozone layer protection.

Notes:
The Rajya Sabha has recently passed the Aircraft (Amendment) Bill 2020, which was tabled by Civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri
The bill has already been cleared by the Lok Sabha in March this year. It seeks to convert aviation agencies like the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Bureau of Civil aviation security (BCAS) and Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) into statutory bodies. It also proposes heavy punishment for violations.

Notes:
The former President of West African nation Mali, Moussa Traore, has recently passed away at the age of 83.
The veteran leader had ruled the African country for more than 22 years. Eight years after Mali gained independence from France, Traore entered into power in a military rebellion, succeeding the country’s first president, Modibo Keita.

Notes:
Veteran scholar of art history, architecture and Indian classical dance, Kapila Vatsyayan has recently passed away at the age of 91.
The artiste was the Chairperson of the Asia Project at the India International Centre, where she was a lifetime trustee. She was also the founding director of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts.

Notes:
India’s apex judicial body, the Supreme Court of India has recently resolved to ensure that the pending criminal cases against sitting and former legislators would be completed in a time bound manner.
The Supreme Court said that more than 4000 cases against legislatures are pending across the country, of which nearly 2500 pertains to sitting legislatures.